Special forces, called upon to solve special tasks, need specific weapons and equipment. In particular, they need special transport with a number of characteristic features. Several years ago, a new transport for special forces was developed in our country, which allows you to get to the specified areas in the shortest time along routes of any complexity. By the efforts of several enterprises, promising multipurpose all-terrain vehicles-buggies under the general name "Chaborz" were developed and delivered into a series. At the moment, there are two samples of this line in serial production.
New class
The Russian army and law enforcement agencies are armed with many types of automotive equipment for various purposes. However, some classes of equipment of particular interest were not covered until recently and did not contribute to the defense capability. In the middle of the current decade, the idea of creating a multipurpose vehicle of the "buggy" class, adapted for use in special forces, appeared and was soon implemented.
The first news about promising technology dates back to 2015-16. Then it became known that the Russian Special Forces University (Gudermes) and the F-MotoSport company (Fryazino) were working on a new buggy project for the army and other structures. In 2016, the first sample of such a machine was built and presented to the public, which at that time was called "Alabai". Soon the project was developed and acquired its current form. In addition, he was given a new name. Now domestic buggies are known under the name "Chaborz" (Chechen. "Bear-wolf").
At the beginning of 2017, the first sets of units for assembling new buggies arrived at the Chechenavto enterprise from Fryazino. Two auto-building companies managed to establish a joint production of cars according to the SKD scheme. In the future, Chechen car builders were able to master the manufacture of a number of units and increased their participation in production. To date, several factories are involved in the production of Chaborz machines. Some of the units are manufactured by Chechenavto, a number of units are supplied by F-MotoSport, and the power units are supplied by AvtoVAZ.
Currently, the family of multipurpose buggies includes two pieces of equipment. These are the cars "Chaborz M-3" and "Chaborz M-6". The two machines differ from each other in terms of size and lifting capacity. In particular, they are capable of transporting a different number of people. The number of landing sites for soldiers is reflected in the designations of the equipment. The M-3 car takes on board the driver and two passengers, while the M-6 carries five people and the driver.
Buggy "Chaborz M-3"
"Chaborza" of two models are produced in a small series and supplied to special forces from various power structures. For obvious reasons, special forces operating in the North Caucasus were the first to receive such equipment. The new vehicles are used as a cross-country vehicle that delivers people and goods to remote and hard-to-reach areas.
Technical features
According to reports, the Chaborz M-3 buggy was developed on the basis of the FunCruiser Lite from F-MotoSport. The design of the basic model was modified in accordance with the requirements and wishes of future operators, which led to the emergence of a promising military vehicle. In the future, the development of the original design continued. The three-seater car was rebuilt and strengthened, as a result of which a new model appeared - "Chaborz M-6". The two representatives of the new family have noticeable differences, but they are based on common ideas.
Both domestic cars have a traditional buggy architecture. They are based on welded pipe frames, on which all the necessary units are installed. Moreover, the frames of the two types of machines differ markedly, which is associated with different requirements and capabilities. The nose part of the frame has fastenings for the front axle units; further there is a cabin with driver's and passenger's seats. The power unit is located below the cab. A seat (M-3) or a whole cargo platform (M-6) can be arranged above it. The large size of the M-6 also made it possible to provide a place for the shooter. Directly behind the cockpit there is a kind of fighting compartment with an annular turret.
A characteristic feature of Chaborz machines is the absence of any protection. This technique is not designed to work on the front line, and its main task is to quickly deliver personnel to the desired area. Protection was sacrificed for high mobility. At the same time, it is the high driving characteristics that can become the main protection of the vehicle in a combat situation.
Cab of the M-3 car
The Chaborz M-3 buggy was originally powered by a VAZ-21126 100 hp engine. With the help of a transmission and a gearbox from a Grant car produced by AvtoVAZ, the engine torque is transmitted to the rear drive axle. It is curious that the finished gearboxes go through some refinement before being installed on the buggy. In addition, the serial transmission is complemented by a disc limited slip differential.
The use of all-wheel drive is not provided. The reason for this decision was the need to lighten the machine, as well as the ability to obtain the desired characteristics even with a 4x2 drive. The larger machine "Chaborz M-6" needs an engine with a capacity of at least 150 hp to obtain the desired characteristics. In the past, the possibility of creating new power plants was mentioned. In particular, the development of an electric transmission was not ruled out.
Both axles of "Chaborz" cars have independent suspension on transverse (front axle) and longitudinal (rear) levers with an inclined or vertical spring. Such a suspension is distinguished by relatively long travels and is capable of working out various irregularities, providing a smooth ride and overcoming obstacles. The front axle is equipped with steerable wheels. The steering system is based on the units of the VAZ "Kalina" car. The rear axle is connected to the transmission and ensures the movement of the machine.
At the request of the customer, the Chaborz buggies can be produced in the arctic version. In this case, the front wheels are replaced with skis, and tracked carriages are mounted instead of the rear ones. Such a restructuring of the undercarriage in some way reduces a number of basic characteristics, but sharply increases the cross-country ability. With a ski-tracked chassis, the buggy provides a solution to tasks on snowy terrain.
Buggy M-3 with aft automatic grenade launcher
Both versions of the project provide for the use of a two-seater cabin. Traditionally for a buggy, such a cabin does not have full sides, roof and glazing. The driver and passenger are protected from external factors only by an inclined metal shield, a small windshield and small side panels. The left seat is for the driver; in front of him are all the necessary instruments and controls. On the right is the arrow. On the dashboard, at the request of the customer, various equipment can be installed - from a radio station to a "tactical" computer.
The Chaborz M-3 car has a number of recognizable features. Thus, a safety bar with struts is installed above the cab. A small platform with a metal fence is provided above the engine. A passenger seat is mounted on the platform, and the guardrail has a swivel mount for weapons. While driving, the driver and passengers must wear five-point seat belts.
"Chaborz M-6" is not equipped with an upper safety arch, which is due to the peculiarities of the installation of weapons. Its elongated frame, directly behind the cockpit, has a turret ring. Under it there is a platform for the shooter and two chairs. The aft part of the frame is occupied by an enlarged cargo area with higher sides. The volume generated by them can be used to transport goods or people. There are folding seats on the platform. If necessary, it can carry four lying wounded on a stretcher.
Both vehicles can transport cargo not only at the respective sites. The design of the machine allows you to hang backpacks, etc. outside. The hooks and straps are then hooked onto the tubular frame elements. Thanks to this, the buggy can carry not only several soldiers, but also their "luggage".
The armament and installation methods for the two vehicles are markedly different. So, the M-3 buggy provides for the installation of two installations for weapons. The first set of attachments is in the front passenger seat. A PKM or Pecheneg machine gun is mounted there; shelling of a large sector of the front hemisphere is provided. The second installation is located at the rear, on the passenger seat fence, and can be used with both a machine gun and an automatic grenade launcher. The use of personal weapons on the move is difficult.
Chaborz M-6 has a similar set of weapons, but it is placed in a different way. The front machine gun mount in the cockpit is also used. The second machine gun (including a large-caliber one) or grenade launcher is located on the upper ring mount. Fighter-passengers on the back platform have the opportunity to use personal weapons.
The three-seater "Chaborz" car has a length of 3.1 m, a width of 1.9 m and a height of 1.5 m. The dry weight is only 820 kg. The maximum payload reaches 400 kg; at the same time, the total mass of the machine reaches 1270-1300 kg. The high power-to-weight ratio ensures a top speed of up to 130 km / h. The machine is capable of climbing slopes with a steepness of at least 50 ° and moving with a roll of up to 45 °. It is possible to overcome various obstacles, including shallow fords.
"Chaborz" model M-6
The six-seater "Chaborz M-6" has a length of 4, 3 m with a width and height of 1, 9 and 1, 8 m, respectively. By changing the design and using a more powerful engine, the payload has almost doubled, up to 750-800 kg. At the same time, the main driving characteristics remain at the level of a less lifting sample.
In service
Back in 2017, AvtoVAZ, F-MotoSport and Chechenavto jointly launched the serial assembly of the latest buggies. Soon, production vehicles began to enter special forces from various structures deployed in the North Caucasus. According to known data, the Russian University of Special Forces, the Special Forces Center of the Federal Security Service and special forces of the Russian Guard already have new equipment of two types. A fairly large fleet of equipment has already been formed, and operating organizations can send up to 8-10 vehicles for one operation.
In October 2017, buggies of the Chaborz family were used for the first time in a major exercise. The maneuvers called "Fight in the city" were held in North Ossetia and were intended to work out the interaction of various security forces in the conduct of hostilities in urban conditions. Armored combat vehicles, artillery and aviation were used against the conditional enemy. To move quickly across the battlefield, the special forces used Chaborz vehicles.
In the spring of 2018, the Russian Guard held a unique exercise in the Arctic. On Franz Josef Land, a motor rally and combat training took place. As the main transport, the fighters used a Chechen-assembled buggy in the Arctic version. The vehicles were moved from wheeled to ski-caterpillar. The equipment showed the required characteristics and confirmed its performance even in the most difficult conditions.
M-3 in the North
As reported, in just a couple of years of service, promising Chaborz buggy cars of two types have confirmed their characteristics and demonstrated broad capabilities. This technique turned out to be a reliable and convenient transport for special forces, solving special tasks in difficult conditions. In practice, the ability of machines to transport people and goods in mountainous, desert and snowy areas has been shown.
A significant number of Chaborz family machines are already in operation and, as far as is known, their production continues. The new equipment is supplied to various special forces in need of special transport. From this point of view, the project can be considered successful. The existing design for non-military purposes was successfully reworked and put into series in the interests of power structures. Now cross-country vehicles help the special forces in the work.
At the same time, it is obvious that the demand for such equipment is limited. Cars with high mobility, but without any protection, can only be used in a number of special-purpose units, etc. structures. Other units of the ground forces or other types of armed forces simply do not need such equipment, since they impose different requirements on their vehicles. Nevertheless, this does not indicate the shortcomings of "Chaborz", but about the specifics of the use of technology and the associated limitations.
The successes achieved by domestic buggies of the Chaborz family show that the troops and security forces need not only armored combat vehicles. To solve a number of problems, other equipment is needed, including light off-road vehicles. The machines of two models, M-3 and M-6, already serve in several structures and give them the necessary capabilities. In addition, work is underway to develop designs and expand the range of tasks to be solved. All this, in general, allows us to evaluate the technique of the "Chaborz" project as successful, albeit highly specialized.
